In 2023, California judge Jeffrey Ferguson was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, during a drunken argument in their Anaheim Hills home. Ferguson admitted to shooting his wife but claimed it was an accident. The jury rejected his testimony and convicted him of murder with a felony gun enhancement. Ferguson faces a maximum sentence of 40 years to life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13.
The first trial ended in a deadlock, leading to a mistrial declared by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge due to a conflict of interest with Orange County. The second trial resulted in a guilty verdict after just one day of deliberation. Prosecutors argued that Ferguson had been heavily drinking and had pointed a gun at his wife during an argument, leading to the fatal shooting. Their son attempted to stop Ferguson, but Sheryl Ferguson died from her injuries.
Ferguson, a former prosecutor before becoming a judge, was released on bail following his arrest, but it was revoked after he violated the conditions by consuming alcohol. He was then released again after posting a $2 million bond. The district attorney’s office pursued the case with approval from the California Attorney General’s Office. Ferguson’s behavior was described as “cold and calculated” by prosecutors who emphasized that the shooting was not an accident.
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